I'm trying to install PC-BSD across multiples slices (I'm using the FreeBSD terminology). I have 2 HDDs ada0 and ada1. 1 slice has been created on every slice : ada0s1 and ada1s1.

My goal is to install all partitions but /usr on ada0s1 and to install /usr on ada1s1. I guess the only to do this is to use the CLI manual mode as Basic and Advanced modes do not allow multiples disks/slices selection.

In the terminal, I cannot figure out how to pass the disk configuration created by sysinstall to PC-Sysinstall. As soon as I exit sysinstall and return to the terminal, I'm unable to mount the filesystems to /mnt as the mount command is unknown !

Here is what I'm doing :

In the terminal, type sysinstall

In Sysinstall, go to Configure then Fdisk

Change slice type of ada0s1 to 165 (slice was formerly unformated and reported as FAT)

Change slice type of ada1s1 to 165 (slice was formerly unformated and reported as FAT)

In Sysinstall, go to Configure then Label

Create ada0s1a as /, ada0s1b as swap, ada0s1d as /var, ada0s1e as /tmp and ada1s1d as /usr

After exiting Configure and Sysinstall and returning to the terminal, the mount command returns mount: Command not found (as other commands).

Ok, it's a shame pc-sysinstall basic and advanced modes do not allow it but I eventually did it ! My goal was to dual boot Windows 7 and PCBSD on a SSD (ada0) and to move home directories and swap for both to an HDD (ada1). Here are the steps :

I Create MBR partitioning scheme using the Windows diskpart utility
For my needs, the following will create 3 partitions (2GB, 60GB and remaining) on the SSD (disk0/ada0) and 2 partitions (60GB and 60GB) on the HDD (disk1/ada1). Do not use the crappy GUI as it will create a 100 MB extra partition.

Boot the computer on the Windows 7 DVD

On the welcome screen, hit SHIFT and F10 to launch the command prompt

type diskpart

type select disk 0

type create partition primary size=2048 align=1024

type create partition primary size=61440 align=1024

type create partition primary align=1024

type select part 3

type active

type format fs=ntfs quick

type select part 2

type format fs=ntfs quick

type select part 1

type format fs=ntfs quick

type select disk 1

type create partition primary size=30720 align=1024

type create partition primary size=30720 align=1024

type select part 2

type format fs=ntfs quick

type select part 1

type format fs=ntfs quick

type exit twice

II Install PCBSD on the third partition of the SSD using ZFS

Reboot computer on the PCBSD DVD

Install PCBSD and select ada0 then ada0s3 using the disk utility

III Move SWAP and /usr/home to the second partition of the HDD
A ZFS pool named tank0 has been created by pc-sysinstall.

After installation, log on PCBSD and launch terminal

type su - and root password

type gpart create -s bsd ada1s2

type gpart add -t freebsd-zfs ada1s2

type zpool create tank1 /dev/ada1s2

type zfs create -V4G tank1/swap

type zfs set org.freebsd:swap=on tank1/swap

type zfs set checksum=off tank1/swap

type zfs destroy tank0/swap

type zfs create tank1/home

type rsync -ax -s /usr/home/ /tank1/home/

type zfs set mountpoint=/usr/home tank1/home

type zfs destroy tank0/usr/home/pollux

type zfs destroy tank0/usr/home

IV Install Windows 7 on the second partition of the SSD and configure the location of ProgramData and Users directories on the first partition of the HDD
I will not provide details here but C: will be my boot partition on the SSD, D: will be my system partition on the SSD and E: will be my user profiles partition on the HDD.

Use WAIK to create an autounattend.xml file (drive letters have to be assigned using the windowsPE pass and the ProgramData and Users directories location have to be set using the oobeSystem pass).

Copy autounattend.xml to the root of an USB key and plug it.

Boot the computer on the Windows 7 DVD

On the welcome screen, hit SHIFT and F10 to launch the command prompt

type diskpart

type select disk 0

type select part 1

type active

type exit twice and install Windows to the second partition of the SSD

Eventually move the pagefile.sys file to the first partition of the HDD

V Configure the Windows boot manager

Boot Windows and install EasyBCD

Set it to add a BCD entry for PCBSD

And voila ! The following web pages were a great source of inspiration for me :